The Trift hut (2520 m) is embedded in a real arctic
environment and can be reached either from the village of Gadmen at the
Sustenpass road, from Hotel Belevedere across the Rhone Glacier or from
the Gelmer Hut.The ascent we choose starts at Gadmen (1205 m) and
passes the Windegg Hut (1887 m) about half way up. Further up at
approximately 1900 m iron ladders lead down to the Trift Glacier which
has to be crossed in south-eastern direction. At least in 1985 this was
the case as - according to scientists of the Zurich University - the
tongue of this Glacier is slowly melting away and now forms a lake
instead. The wave-like Glacier tongue as can be seen in the photos
below does not exist anymore. After crossing the Glacier the side
moraine is entered which is a bit arduous at first but soon the path is
improving.

After about half of the ascent the Trift Glacier is
reched via a short descent through a rockwall belayed by iron ladders.
The hut itself is situated behind the rocks on the left side, where the
path continues. Through a 400 m wide serac zone the Trift Glacier
breaks down into the lower glacier basin. Here we leave the glacier and
move up the side moraine and later follow the path to the hut.

View from the Trift Hut in western
direction to Gwächtenhorn (3215 m- not to be mixed up with another
summit at the Sustenpass), the pyramid of Chilchlistock (3114 m) and
Steinhüshorn (3121 m - right).

This photo shows the arctic dimensions of the
Trift Glacier. Behind the summit of Tieralplistock (3383 m), to the
right Diechterhorn (3389 m). The Trift Glacier is about 7 km long and
up to 4 km wide. Beyond the gap to the left the Rhone Glacier (10 km)
is situated.